Apparatus for extinguishing fire in oil-tanks.



PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

J. P. MGOANN. APPARATUS FOR BXTINGUISHING FIRE IN OIL TANKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

WITNESSE3: INVENTOR, A 02 j w @Jfcm A TTORNE X UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

JAMES P. MoCANN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO CHARLES FORQUER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVANIA.

AP ARATUS FOR Ex-"rmeulsmue asin OIL-TANKS.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,884, dated November 1, 1904.- l I Application filed March 7, 1904. Serial No. 198,886. (No model.) v I To all whom/it may concern:

Be it knownthat'I, JAMES P. MGCANN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Extinguishing Fire in. Oil-Tanks, of which the foldrawings, of which Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan view, the cover of the oil-tank having been removed. "f

The object of this invention is to provide an improved means for extinguishing fires in oil-' containing tanks; and the leading feature of the invention consists of the combination, with the tank, of 'an outlet-pipe within. said tank and extending through the lower portion of the latter, the open end of the pipe extending above the level of the oil withinthe tank, and means for forcing water into the bottom portion of the tank, whereby. when a fire oc curs in the latter'the water forcedinto the tank will cause the oil to flow into said pipe and thence to a'suitable receptacle, the flame of the burning oil being extinguished as it (the oil) passes into and through said pipe.

Other features of the invention relate to certain details of construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out. p

In the drawings, 1 is the oil-containing tank of usual form. 2 is a pipe in the central part of the'latter that extends vertically from the bottom of the tank to a point above the level of the oil in the tank, and its lower end passes through the side of the latter and in the present instance delivers into an underground receptacle 3. Said pipe may be opened and closed by means of an ordinary valve 4.

Extending obliquely upward from the vertical portion of the pipe 2 are series of branch pipes 5, the several series being at different levels, as shown. The uppermost series are open, while the remaining series have their free ends closed by fusible caps or plugs e.

7 is the pipethat leads from a source of water-supply into the lower end of tank 1, through which pipe water may be forced into the tank by a pump or other suitable means. Said pipe is normallyclosed by a check-valve 8 in order to preventthe escape of oil from the tank through the pipe.

Isometimes makeithe pipe 2 with a bend 2 to form a trap, wherebywhen the portion of said trap between said bend .and the vertical COP Patented November 1 ,1904. d 7

part of the pipeis filled with oil," air is prepast the check-valveSinto the tank 1. The oil being lighter than water,'the latter raising the level of the former, the burning oil will flow out through the upper seriesofbranch pipes 5 or the pipe2, or both, into the receptacle 3.

As the oil passes into said outlet-pipes its flame l 1 is extinguished .for lack of air to support combustion. with water allof the oil will finally be driven from out the tank and the fire extinguished. In case the level of the oil at the time of occurrence of the fire be below the level of the free ends of the series of branch pipes or any of them having the fusible caps 6 the heat of the burning oil will melt said caps 6 then above the oil-level, and so open the pipes, and

upon forcing a sufiicient supply of water into the tank the oil will flow into the pipes whose caps have become fused. The advantage of having the said series of fusible-cap branch pipes at different levels below said upper series is that if the level of the oil at the time By continuing to displace the oil.

of the occurrence of a fire within the tank be comparatively low, less quantity of water, and

2 a B v.r

consequently less time, would be required to cause the oil to escape into pipe 2 than if the upper end of the latter or the upper series of branch pipes were relied upon for that purposez'. 6., if the said underlying series of branch pipes were dispensed with.

The receptacle 3 would be provided with a cover 3, as shown, with a vent-pipe 9 for air and gas or oil vapor, and sometimes I would, as a precautionary measure to prevent danger of explosion within the receptacle in case the escaping vapor should become ignited, inject a jet of steam into said vent -pipe through a pipelO, whose end extends into the latter and is upwardly bent, as seen in Fig. 1.

It will be obvious that there may be a num-' ber of oil-tanks each equipped witha pipe similar to 2 and .each having a water-supply pipe communicating with the tank, each of the first-mentioned pipes leading into a receptacle or receptacles, such as 3, or into a common large receptacle, and the water-supply pipes leading from a central pumpingstation, whereby a fire occurring in any one or more of the tanks may be extinguished in the manner hereinbefore describe The receptacle 3 may be dispensed with and the pipe 2 extended to carry the oil to any point desired. The check-valve 8 may also be dispensed with and other means employed to prevent the flow of oil into the water-supp yp p BEST AVAILABLE COP open at said upper end, one or more series of branch pipes extending from said outlet-pipe, and having their free ends below the level of the upper end of said outlet-pipe, the fusible pipes, together with the pipe leading from a source of water under pressure into the lower portion-of said tank, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with the oil-containing tank, of the outlet-pipe having the upper series of branch pipes open at their free ends, which ends extend normally above the level of the oil, and one or more series of branch pipes below said first series, and having the fusible caps closing their free ends, together with the pipe leading from a source of supply of water underpressure into the lower portion of said tank, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto'affixed my signature this 27th day of November,

I JAMES P. MCGANN. Witnesses:

WALTER O. PusEY, WILLIAM E. CHAPMAN.

caps closing the said free ends of said branch 1 

